Amazon Sellers Plagued by Surge in Scam Returns at WSJ. “Amazon shoppers regularly switched Coach wallets for no-name dupes and Nike football cleats for flip-flops. She tried to get Amazon’s help, but filing complaints became a hit-or-miss process. She eventually changed her inventory and now sells consumable products like pet supplies, which has significantly reduced theft.” WSJ subs.

 

Nearly half of Levi’s sales are happening online and in its shops, a shift as department stores fade at CNBC. “In the three months ended Feb. 25, direct-to-consumer sales made up a record 48% of overall sales at Levi’s, up from 42% in the year-ago period and 25% higher on a two-year basis, the retailer said.” Read more

 

Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For (Wegmans #6 / Sheetz #60 / Target #65 / Publix #81 / Walmart #97) List

 

Dollarama reports Q4 profit and sales up from year ago at Toronto Star. “Comparable store sales rose 8.7 per cent as the number of transactions rose 11.2 per cent, but the average transaction size fell 2.2 per cent.” Read more

 

Costco offering members access to weight-loss programs including medication at Reuters. ” Costco Wholesale will offer its members access to weight-loss programs, including prescription drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, from online healthcare services provider Sesame…(Costco’s) members can subscribe to Sesame’s weight-loss program for $179 for three months, compared with $195 for non-members…” Read more

 

12 people mysteriously sickened at Walmart distribution center at KPLC 7

 

Amazon closing smaller Fresh grocery store in Seattle as it focuses on expanded format stores at GeekWire. “Amazon also confirmed it will be removing Just Walk Out tech from existing large-format Fresh stores…Amazon said it plans to rely on Dash Carts, which keep track of items and costs as shoppers place those items in the high-tech shopping carts and skip the checkout lines. Just Walk Out will continue to be used in Amazon Go convenience stores, and will be licensed to third parties for use in such places as sports stadiums, airports and on college campuses.” Read more

 

…Amazon cuts jobs in physical stores tech group “For the AWS team that develops technology for Amazon’s physical retail stores, the cuts follow reports that Amazon is shifting away from its “Just Walk Out” technology in its larger Amazon Fresh grocery stores.” at GeekWire

 

H-E-B loses its spot as Austin’s largest private employer to Tesla at Chron

 

Thrive Market’s Nick Green talks building a billion-dollar grocery company at TechCrunch. “The billion-dollar e-commerce company splashed onto the scene in 2014 with its idea of online grocery delivery… Nick Green, one of the company’s co-founders, stopped by Found to chat about his company and the market’s evolution since he first launched it.” Read more / Audio

 

In expansion push, Home Depot to spend $172 mln in Mexico this year at Reuters. “The company is widening its product offerings, particularly in the furniture, decorations and pets segments, adding in a statement that it aims to open 12 more stores in the next few years to reach 150 total in Mexico.” Read more

 

California bill requires one worker for every two cashierless registers at Supermarket News. “The measure would require grocery and pharmacy retailers to meet certain requirements if they wanted to offer self-checkout, including having no more than two self-checkout stations monitored by any one employee and requiring the employee to be relieved of all other duties.” Read more

 

How Far $100 Goes at the Grocery Store After Five Years of Food Inflation at WSJ. “Sharon Faelten, a 74-year-old retiree from Underhill, Vt., said that instead of a wallet-punishing ordeal, she tries to think of trips to the store like procurement raids depicted in apocalyptic novels, where the goal is to stock her fridge, freezer and pantry for as little money as possible.” WSJ subs.

 

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